COMMUNITY
Michigan Miracle Mission
To Israel Planned For 1993
SUZANNE CHESSLER
Special to The Jewish News
T
o expand its com-
munity outreach pro-
gram, Detroit-based
Congregation T'Chiyah is
considering a proposal to con-
duct one Sabbath service each
month at a suburban
location.
The Reconstructionist
group has met in Greektown
since 1976, generally at St.
Mary's Community Center.
However, members have held
quarterly services and special
events throughout the metro-
politan area.
"We have strong ties to the
city, but we also recognize
that the bulk of the Jewish
community is in southern
Oakland County," said David
Goodman, vice president of
the 50-family congregation.
"Our current membership is
divided between the city and
suburbs."
The vote on the proposal is
scheduled for April 12. If it
passes, a meeting place will
be sought along the 1-696 cor-
ridor in Southfield, Oak Park
or Huntington Woods.
"We want to attract new
members and more participa-
tion," said Mr. Goodman.
T'Chiyah also draws mem-
bers from Windsor, Ann Ar-
bor and Lansing.
For the past two years,
T'Chiyah, which means
renaissance, has been work-
ing on plans for long-term
survival and growth, and the
proposal is one of a number of
initiatives to make the group
more visible and assure the
future of Reconstructionism
in the Detroit area.
Reconstructionism encour-
ages participation of con-
gregants, who conduct ser-
vices and join Ibrah dis-
cussions instead of listening
to sermons. Practices are
founded on the view that
Judaism always has been in
a state of change and adapta-
tion, with lessons of the past
applied to situations of the
present, according to Mr.
Goodman.
Reconstructionists in-
troduced the bat mitzvah
ceremony 70 years ago, and
for T'Chiyah's Rosh
Hashanah services in 1990,
the rabbi, cantor and presi-
dent were women.
Across the country, there
are about 75 Reconstruc-
tionist congregations. One of
the founders of the Detroit
group was U.S. Senator Carl
Levin.
"We offer the friendliness
and intimacy that only a
small group can," Mr.Good-
man said. "We very quickly
get to know one another. Each
person counts."
❑
Childhood Show
At Temple Beth El
"Focus on Kids: An Early
Childhood Showcase" will be
presented 10 a.m.-3 p.m. April
12 at Temple Beth El. A joint
effort of the Married Group of
Temple Beth El,
metroPARENT (All Kids
Considered) magazine and
Providence Hospital, this first
annual event will afford over
40 local businesses the oppor-
tunity to exhibit the newest
and best in products and ser-
vices.
On hand to demonstrate
products and answer ques-
tions will be experts in toys,
books, child care, pediatrics,
photography, dance, sports,
schools, hobbies, camps,
decorative arts, birthday par-
ties, entertainment. The
event will feature arts and
crafts, a petting zoo and play
equipment to keep youngsters
entertained while parents
gather information. Snacks
and lunches also will be
available at a charge. Admis-
sion to the exhibit itself is
free.
Proceeds from the program
will benefit local charities for
children and families. For in-
formation, call Barbara
Grant, 851-1100.
David Hermelin
Ann Arbor Will Host
Mideast Dialogue
Dr. Nabeel Abraham, pro-
fessor of anthropology at
Henry Ford Community Col-
lege in Dearborn; and Am-
bassador Uriel Savir, Consul
General of Israel for New
York, will speak on the topic
"Prospects for Mideast Peace:
Israeli-Palestinian Dialogue"
8 p.m. April 7 in the Ann Ar-
bor Rackham Building
Fourth Floor Amphitheater.
The moderator for the event
will be Professor Theodore St.
Antoine of the University of
Michigan Law School.
Ambassador Savir, a diplo-
mat who is second only to
Zalman Shoval (Israel's Am-
bassador to the United
States), was recently in Ann
Arbor for Israel Conference
Day on the U of M campus.
Savir is a member of the
Labor Party and one of the
last political appointees of
former Israeli Prime Minister
Shimon Peres.
Nabeel Abraham is a native
of Dearborn who writes about
the Middle East, Arab
Americans, U.S. foreign policy
and the news media. His most
recent work is a study of anti-
Arab racism and violence in
America. He is on the Detroit
board of the American-Arab
Anti-Discrimination
Committee.
The program is being spon-
sored by the American-Arab
Anti-Discrimination Commit-
tee (Detroit Chapter), the
Jewish Community Associa-
tion/United Jewish Appeal,
three organizations sponsored
by the U-M Hillel: Pro-
gressive Zionist Caucus,
.
= M M
T'Chiyah Considering
Services In Suburbs
co-chairmen of the mission.
Ms. Citrin, who serves in a
leadership role with several
communal agencies, is in
charge of organizational
recruitment; Dr. Giles, presi-
dent of the Michigan Jewish
Conference, is serving as
liaison to out-state com-
munities; and Ms. Sherman,
national vice chairman of the
United Jewish Appeal, is
focusing on the programming
in Israel. Tami. Margolis is
director of the mission.
Information about the trip
will be available at the Israel
Independence Celebration
May 6-10 at the Maple-Drake
Jewish Community Center
and through the mail. For
details about the mission, call
Tami Margolis, 642-4260.
Jewish Peace Lobby, and the
Israel Michigan Public Af-
fairs Committee, the U-M Of-
fice of Ethics and Religion,
the U-M Residential College,
the U-M departments of
history and political science
and the New Jewish Agenda.
r - - a
KC
Second-grader Devora Cohen presents a thank-you card to Oakland
County Circuit Court Judge Hilda R. Gage from the students of Akiva
Hebrew Day School. Judge Gage will receive Akiva's Woman of Valor
Award.
The largest mission to
Israel ever mounted in
Michigan will be launched in
April 1993, climaxing on Yom
Ha'atzmaut — Israel In-
dependence Day — in
Jerusalem.
Families, singles, fraternal
and service groups, syna-
gogues and temples will join
the Michigan Miracle Mis-
sion, in an expression of
solidarity with the people of
Israel. The non-fund-raising
trip is being organized by the
Jewish Federation of
Metropolitan Detroit.
Chaired by. David Herme-
lin, the trip will include
special programs designed
around the interests of affini-
ty groups, which also will
come together for "mega"
events. Mission-goers will
meet with Israeli government
officials and participate in
Yom
for
ceremonies
—
Israel
Ha'zikaron
Memorial Day.
Participants will fly direct-
ly from Detroit to Tel Aviv's
Ben-Gurion Airport. The trip
will include accommodations
and sightseeing throughout
Israel.
Susan Citrin, Dr. Conrad
Giles and Jane Sherman are
Bonds Dinner
Honors Kukes
State of Israel Bonds'
Women's Division will pay
tribute to Belle Kukes at a
Diamond Trustee/Prime
Minister's Club dinner recep-
tion April 14 at the home of
Nancy and James Grosfeld.
Mrs. Kukes will be honored
for her longtime commitment
to Israel, the community, and
for her efforts on behalf of
Israel Bonds.
Born in Hungary, Mrs.
Kukes immigrated to the
United States when she was
one year old. She was raised
in Detroit, attended Wayne
University for her undergra-
duate studies and received
her Bachelor of Laws from
Wayne Law School in 1937.
She was married to the late
Harold B. Kukes for 35 years
and has three children and
five grandchildren.
She- serves in leadership
roles in numerous organiza-
tions, including the boards of
the Women's Division of the
Jewish Federation.
Attendance at the dinner
reception is based on a
minimum Israel Bond pur-
chase of $10,000. For informa-
tion, call the Israel Bond of-
fice, 352-6555.